Tag Archives: writing

Will Running Commentary Return?

Posted on June 30, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I love it when my runs get up to 40 minutes, because about 22, 23 minutes in, my body goes, “Oh, yeaaah!”  This does not happen to me during shorter runs.  Your results may vary.

I have not said much about my plan to run in the Virtual Boilermaker 15K for the simple reason that I do not have a plan.  I don’t know how to make a plan for that sort of thing!  The only virtual run I have done so far was a 5K sponsored by Rock City Runners to benefit the Little Falls Food Pantry (perhaps you read my blog post about it).  I am thinking a 15K will be at least proportionally more complicated, if not moreso (why is my Tablet underlining “moreso”?  That’s a word, isn’t it? ).

Be all that as it may, I have been running incrementally longer runs (or do I mean increasingly?  Am I being unnecessarily verbose?  Say it ain’t so!).  I thought it might be nice to make more Running Commentary Posts.  Unfortunately,  I make my best Running Commentaries soon after the run.  Yes, I ran this morning, but I just don’t remember all that much about it.

What does that say about me?  Nothing good, I suppose.  Then again, why should I go out of my way to say good things about me?  Readers will think I have a tremendous ego.  Yet again, I have long maintained that there are worse things than having an ego the size of Manhattan.

Well, that is enough of that circular argument.  But it gives me an idea:  I am going to call this a Monday Mental Meanderings, hit Publish, and drive on.  I hope I can go running again tomorrow.

 

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Shall We Blame My Attitude?

Posted on June 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I have long maintained that it was useless to try to get anything done on a Sunday.  Once again, I have proven myself right.

Oh, I know all about self-fulfilling prophecies.  And please do not say, “Well, you never will with that attitude.”  For heaven’s sake, by that reasoning everybody can do anything they want if they only want it bad enough.  But let me not digress into these philosophical arguments with imaginary opponents.

I went for a long run this morning up a fairly challenging hill.  My first intent was to go for a slow, leisurely run, maybe even not very long, but I changed my mind as I went.  I told myself I could just run up the hill very slowly. Not that I ever at any time run very fast.

After a shower and breakfast, I made a tossed salad for the week.  I realized once again that my weight loss goals are more like daydreams, so once again I will renew my efforts at healthy eating.  Then I went to T & J’s Fruits and Vegetables for more tomatoes to make a macaroni salad,  which eventually I did.  More calories than the tossed salad, but so yummy and seasonal!

In the afternoon, I went with my friend Kim to the End Zone Pub and Grub.  We drank wine and I ordered the hamburger I had been craving for days.  I had French fries too, especially since Kim wanted to share those.  What was I saying about weight loss daydreams?  Oh well, as they say, tomorrow is another day.

Speaking of daydreams, you may have noticed that at no time did I mention writing.  I tried but failed.  I wrote a few paragraphs in the TV Journal and that was it.  But I mean to persevere.  At least I have managed a 300 word blog post.  An entertaining blog post?  Let’s not ask for miracles, not with my attitude.

 

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Did I Slack?

Posted on June 28, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Earlier this morning, I thought at least I will not have a Slacker Saturday!  Now I am not so sure.

I got up around five and immediately went running.  For one reason, it was supposed to rain.  For another reason… well, I don’t exactly remember the reasoning, bit I told myself to do it and I did it.  After a shower and some breakfast, I went to the grocery store, getting there early enough to miss the usual Saturday morning crowd.

After putting the groceries away, I went outside and once again had at my lawn.  Certain areas along the edges are getting a little put of control.  On the morning’s run, I noticed a fence almost obscured by numerous bushes and trees.  I said, “Yikes!”  So I did a bit with clippers, a hack saw, and my hands in gardening gloves.  Phew!

Not yet done with being useful, I did the dishes and wrote a few post cards.  In between these chores, I peeked at Facebook and called my Mom and Dad.  My final useful act was to drive by the post office and mail my post cards (I elected not to walk, because it was raining).  I could not extend the trip into further useful shopping, because I forgot to bring a mask.

So I have gotten a few things done, but writing an interesting blog post was not one of them.  Alas!  I can only hope to do better on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

 

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Oh, Leave Me a Lame!

Posted on June 27, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

I was torn between that headline and “Oh, Please Lame Me Alone!”  Which do you prefer?  Please tell me in Comments.  I love comments and I very rarely get any.  But how needy of me to say so.  No matter.  Today is Lame Post Friday and I intend to enjoy it.

Of course, I do not strictly rate a Lame Post Friday since I have been off work since Wednesday.  Judge me if you feel so inclined. I cannot worry about these things now.

I am looking at Dateline while trying to type this (one letter at a time with the stylus) (and, as Truman Capote once said, “That’s not writing, that’s typing”).  I was looking at a DVR’d episode of Svengoolie  but messed it up while trying to fast forward through the commercials. Once again, I cannot worry about such things now.

I am actually having a fairly enjoyable Friday.  That could be due to the wine I am imbibing.  Once again, judge me if you are so inclined. We do all tend to judge one another, don’t we?  Oh, I suppose YOU never do (you know who you are).  I say that this is not bad if we use such judgements to improve our own behavior.  Do YOU do so?  I hope I do.  I say, “I don’t want to be that way!”

Do I indeed change my behavior?  I hope I do, at least most of the time.  Then again, we none of us live up to our ideal all the time (and no, you do NOT!).   But one does what one can, even on Lame Post Friday.

 

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In General, This Is Not A Hot Post

Posted on June 24, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Yesterday I made a blog post about how it was too hot to make a decent blog post.  Therefore, it behooves me not to do the same thing today.  Yikes.  I know, a word like “yikes” generally rates an exclamation point.  Sorry; I’m just too hot.  So much for making a blog post about something different.  No, no, don’t give up on me!  I’ll try to come up with something!

That’s right, General! Point the way!

I searched my Media Library for a picture with snow.  Here is the statue of General Herkimer in Meyers Park in Herkimer,  NY.  He sports a mask these days, and there are flowers around the base.

We can see the mask but not the flowers, so you will just have to take my word for it.

You can see by the delicate green on the trees in the background that I took this picture a couple of months ago.  That would be when I was hoping it would be warm enough to sit outside instead of being afraid it was too hot to do so.  Do you get the feeling I am never happy?  Well, I try.

 

OK, I just tried three times to add a photo of my feet lounging on my deck.  However, my Tablet will not cooperate.  Regular readers know I am fairly technologically incompetent.  On the other hand, I see I have rambled my way up over 200 words.  I think I will share a picture of flowers and call it a Tired Tuesday Post.  Let’s hope for cooler weather and a better blog post tomorrow.

My Johnny Jump-ups are still looking good!

 

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I Should Have Made a Better Blog Post

Posted on June 7, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

Oh dear, I am up to my old tricks again, falling asleep before I make my blog post then frantically typing at 5 a.m. to make up for it.  I had meant to make a Saturday Running Commentary Post. I even took a picture of my new running shoes for an illustration.

I had to lean over my fat belly to see them.

I was wearing my Boilermaker t-shirt,  which was given to me by a friend.  She had purchased it for herself, for inspiration.  Since said inspiration was not forthcoming, she passed it on to me.  It fits me, so my bloated belly showed.  I did not take a picture of that.

It was actually a pretty good run.  I ran for a long time and went up a couple of minor hills.  My new sneakers were an utter delight.  I purchased them on sale at Melfi’s Shoes in Ilion, NY.  I should probably write a whole blog post about that, in order to give a shout-out to a local business.  We all know Mohawk Valley Girl loves local!

So I guess this is my blog post about what I should have written my blog post about.  I’ll call that OK for 5:30 on a Sunday morning.  I’ll try for a better blog post later, but no promises on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

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Surprise! It’s Running Commentary!

Posted on June 4, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Running Commentary Post in lieu of my usual Wuss-out Wednesday.  I surprised myself by actually running.  Let’s see if I can further surprise myself by writing a decent blog post about it.

Full disclosure:  it was running only by the most generous definition of the act.  Of course this is always the case with me, but today was an especially egregious example.

I did not get out as soon as I got home.  First I talked myself out of it, which is what I did yesterday (Monday I counted mowing the lawn with the non-power mower as my exercise, so did not need an excuse).  I sat and checked my email, looked at Facebook, got hungry, wondered what to eat.  Then I changed into running clothes, put a load of laundry in the washer, and off I went.

Like the proverbial herd of turtles.

Oh, I thunked.  I clunked.  I huffed and puffed.  But I kept going.  I had a deal with myself that I only had to run for 20 minutes.  That, with my ten minute cool-down walk, would bring me home just about when the washer finished.  Surely I could rock 20 minutes (I’ll call you Shirley if I feel like it)!  I was running more up to 45 minutes on the weekend.  Come on, me!

I did not rock anything.  However, I kept going.  I looked at the grass, I looked at the trees.  I ran in or across the street when I saw other pedestrians, because, you know, social distance.  I called a greeting or waved to many of them.  I saw other people’s irises which had already bloomed (mine are still buds, as pictured in yesterday’s post).

I’m thinking this is a short, and I am afraid rather dull Running Commentary Post.  So I did not surprise myself twice.  I must say that does not surprise me.  Does that mean if I had surprised myself with a terrific blog post, I would have been surprised three times today?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

 

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I Make an Effort on Tired Tuesday

Posted on June 3, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

For this week’s Tired Tuesday Post,  I bestirred myself enough to walk outside and take a few pictures of my ever-changing yard.  I fear the changes come slowly and often without any effort on my part.  Perhaps I can make more of an effort as the season progresses. In the meantime,  I will make do.

Note the bird-shaped hole.

I recently added this birdhouse to my front yard, using a hook I found in the garage.  I hung another house on the porch (replacing the skull which had previously hung there), but I neglected to take a picture of that (preview of coming attractions).  I went out back for more photo ops.

I’ll be so happy when they bloom!

Under the heading No Effort On My Part (and Preview of Coming Attractions), here are the buds on my irises.  My Mom gave me the iris bulbs some years ago, and they have bloomed every year since.

Under the heading Some Effort, I decided to take close up pictures of my container garden.

School’s out!

I have had the desk for a while now.  I found it in somebody’s trash the Sunday after the Herkimer Village-Wide Garage Sale.  Don’t judge me.

I did a lot of pink and purple.

I only have one herb, but basil is my favorite.

There will be pesto!

 

The thrill and the fill.

I have read that in a good container, you have the thrill, the fill, and the spill.  I think I need bigger containers, because the best I could do were the preceding and the following pots, each with two out of three.

The fill and the spill.

 

Another pink and purple.

There is a broken solar light in this one.  At least, I accidentally broke it off its pick when I was trying to put it in the front yard.  I put it in the pot in hopes it would still light.  I have not been outside after dark to check.

I think the squirrels have been digging in my marigolds.

For my final pic, I go back into No Effort mode.  I took this picture Saturday, but I could only post it on Facebook, and it was turned 90 degrees.  Today a Facebook friend had turned it, so I downloaded his version to this device.  Let’s see if it worked!

Thanks, Norm!

Here are my feet, relaxing on my deck.  Yes, that is my novel they are resting on.  I’m still making efforts on that.

 

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No Title on Throwback Thursday

Posted on May 29, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

How could one of these lovely ladies be a murderess?

I open this week’s Throwback Thursday Post with a photo of the cast of  Fabulous and Fatal, the murder mystery we presented last fall to benefit the Herkimer County Historical Society.  Full disclosure:  I am having difficulty in making any post at all.  I wrote other stuff while on breaks at work, so that goes against my usual contention of “writing begets writing.”   I am alternately staring at the screen and typing things in which I immediately backspace out.

Never mind that, I tell myself.  Just type.  How hard could it be?  I’ll just look for more throwback photos.

Guess which one of us was nipping at the whiskey.

This is one of my favorite photos.  It is me and Jay Groah at the Ritz and Ragtime at Rutger Park fundraiser for the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica.  Jay Groah is a realtor and one of the main movers and shakers of the Landmarks Society.   He is also a very cool guy.

J’accuse!

Back to murder, I add a picture of a murder mystery we did last spring.  And I will be damned if I can think of the title!   How embarrassing!  I can’t even find a blog post about it, although clearly I wrote one, since this picture was in my Media Library.  Once again I say, what the hell, me?

Well, never mind that.  I am over 200 words, and that is plenty enough for a foolish post like this.  Some might say it is too much, but I feel that would be unkind, don’t you?

 

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There’s No Balcony Scene In Hamlet

Posted on May 27, 2020 by mohawkvalleygirl

What she said!

After sitting here with a blank mind for a while, I looked in my Media Library for some inspiration.  I found this chalk art on a walking path near my house.  I love sidewalk art.  I hope I get a chance to photograph more of it.

This isn’t chalk.

Here is a more permanent decoration on the walking path.  I find it a cheery addition to the area.

As you may have guessed, this is a Tired Tuesday Post. I was going to blame the heat, but I find I am often tired these days.  Perhaps I am ingesting insufficient vitamins or fiber or something.

Aaaaaand now I have the type it in, backspace it out disease.  Do suppose that should be capitalized (Type It In, Backspace It Out Disease) or hyphenated (type-it-in-backspace-it-out disease)?  Discuss amongst yourselves.

“Backspace me out, willya?”

I had a sudden urge to include a picture of Nosferatu.  He can always brighten up a dull post.  I am now veering into Non-Sequitur territory.  I feel that Non-Sequitur Thursday has a better ring than Non-Sequitur Tuesday,  but what are you going to do (as in “whatta  ya gonna do?”).   I have a completely unrelated headline I have been dying to use.  I guess Today is the day!

 

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